Foundation raises $12,500 at breakfast

Lansing Educational Foundation Fund raised more than $12,500 from corporate donors and ticket sales at the first event in its giving campaign Friday morning at Lansing Middle School.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius spoke to more than 225 people who bought tickets to attend the breakfast. After the governor spoke, she helped to honor students in the district who had performed well on the 2004 Kansas State Assessment and on the ACT college entrance exam.

Lansing Schools Superintendent Randal Bagby, Foundation President Kyle Kelly and School Board President Shelly Gowdy also spoke at the event.

Lansing High School National Honor Society students greeted guests and served breakfast.

With the money the foundation raised from the event, members expect to help the district improve on areas it has addressed as concerns.

Foundation Director Mary Alice Schroeger said she hoped that by April 1 teachers would be able to apply for mini-grants through LEFF to fund projects for next year.

"It's about providing educational opportunities for students and supporting teachers," Schroeger said.

Foundation members said they planned to hold the breakfast again next year and eventually would like to hold a gala including a dinner within the next two years.

Schroeger said she was pleased with the turnout. She said she especially enjoyed seeing students who excelled academically get recognition.

Maintaining and improving the status of the district is a collective effort involving the state, the community and businesses, Schroeger said.

"We put extra time in the foundation, now the legislature has work to do to do their part," she said.

"Lansing is a well-kept secret. We beat out Blue Valley, Olathe and Shawnee Mission (school districts) in standardized testing scores," Schroeger said. "Now the adults have to step up to the plate and realize how they can help the schools continue to improve."